Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin broke his silence Monday on the allegations against Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-05), saying he believes the investigation will wrap up in the coming days.
Ellison, who is running for Minnesota attorney general, currently faces two domestic-abuse allegations, one of which became public just days before the August primary when his ex-girlfriend said the congressman forcibly dragged her from a bed and verbally abused her on multiple occasions.
During a Friday debate, Ellison once again denied the allegations but was unable to confirm that the investigation into the matter would conclude before the November election. Additional questions were raised earlier in the month when Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez tasked the DFL, as opposed to the DNC, with leading the investigation.
After nearly two months of speculation, Martin has finally addressed the investigation, which will issue its final report in the near future.
“I’m starting to get a little frustrated because it’s been a long time now, almost two months. I hope soon. I hope any day here,” Martin told the Associated Press.
Martin also revealed that he has hired external investigator Susan Ellingstad to ensure that the investigation “wouldn’t be colored by people with associations with the party.” Ellingstad, however, is a partner at Minneapolis law firm Lockridge Grindel Nauen P.L.L.P., whose partner Charlie Nauen serves as the DFL’s attorney and co-investigator on the Ellison case.
Ellingstad donated to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign during the 2016 election, and Nauen has donated to dozens of Democratic causes and candidates over the years, including four separate donations to Ellison himself, one of which was as recent as May 2018.
Republican Doug Wardlow attacked Ellison during Friday’s debate for calling the investigation “independent,” saying the investigation is being conducted by his “friends and fellow party members.”
In the latest poll, Wardlow trailed Ellison by just five points, with 18 percent of voters still undecided.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
